December Grades 3-4 Book Club: Red

For December's Book Club, we read Red by Liesl Shurtliff. Lucy, Micah, Mira, and Rileigh were present for Book Club. We used a Brightly.com Book Club guide to keep our discussion on track.

Although this story focuses on Red, the author refers to many other fairy tales. How many did you recognize?

-Goldilocks and the Three Bears
-Three Little Pigs
-Sleeping Beauty
-Snow White
-Rumpelstiltskin

Red is both fascinated by and scared of her magic abilities. Why? Share examples of the effects of using magic in Red.

-She almost killed her grandmother.
-She did a spell that made roses go up her nose.
-She made her path through the woods, which worked out well for her.

Granny tells Red that fear, not magic, is what causes trouble. Do you agree? How did fear affect Red? When have you been afraid? How have you dealt with your fears?

-Magic causes trouble because you never know what you'll get.
-Magic doesn't cause trouble; fear can take over your mind and affect your magic.
-It's the fear that is taking over her magic. She's not controlling it; her fear is.
-I confront my fears and breathe deeply.
-I was afraid of the dark but I grew out of it.
-You talk to your fears and tell them not to scare you.

Who is Goldie? What do you know about her from the story? How are she and Red similar and different?

-They're different. One has a mother who is kind of selfish.
-Both have color names.
-They both have something that they own that is the color of their name: Goldie's golden hair and Red's red cloak
-Goldie is an obnoxious Goldilocks
-She's annoying and obnoxious.
-She just wants her mother to like her.

Things are never quite what they seem in this story — beautiful water sprites are dangerous, witches are good, and wolves are more helpful than dangerous. Why do you think the author wrote these characters this way?

-Because everything is misunderstood.
-Everything has a backstory.
-So that a character could do something new.
-So that the reader's expectations would be turned around.

At one point, Red remembers that “Granny said there were always at least two sides to any story, if not a dozen” (page 133). What does that mean? How does that idea play out in the book?

-Because not everything is simple.
-The wolves and witches are nice while the beautiful people are bad.
-The Big Bad Wolf became the Big Good Wolf, which was unexpected and shows more than one side to the story.

Red makes some unlikely friendships throughout her journey. Discuss and compare her friendships with Goldie, Wolf, and Borlen.

-In the beginning, Red is annoyed by Goldie. But then she realizes that they had a connection. And by the end, they are friends.

-She had a special connection with Wolf through the spell. 
-Borlen and Red had a good connection because Red was able to overlook that Borlen is a monster.

Goldie encourages Red to use her magic by saying “Some mistakes need to be made. Sometimes we have to fall down before we can stand up” (page 64). Do you agree? Why is practice important? Are there things you are good at because you practice?

-Practice is important because you might not become good at something.
-You aren't just going to wake up in fifth grade and know stuff.
-Sports because I practice (and I like it).
-Sports because I practice.
-I am so so so good at basketball because my dad is basketball coach.

The concept of death is woven throughout this book. The Well Witch, Red, the Beast, and the Huntsman are all afraid of death. The dwarves and Granny, however, seem more accepting of their fates. What does Red learn about death during her journey with Goldie? What did you learn? What do you think of the choices some characters made to try to avoid death?

-Death eventually comes to get you.
-It's a bad choice to try to become immortal.
-Death is like playing a game of tag. Sometimes it tags other people but at some point it will tag you.
-Death is part of the circle of life. You are born, you grow up and you die.

“Life is like a story. It doesn’t mean anything if it doesn’t end” (page 197). What did Beast mean by that? What did you think of Red’s ending?

-It's like the circle of life. 
-You leave the earth but you can still watch your loved ones.
-I liked the ending of Red because it's nice how Goldie came to visit her and her grandma was still alive and her parents came back.

Please rate this book from 1-5, with 5 being the best:

-Three 3s
-One 4

For January's Book Club, we will be reading El Deafo by Cece Bell. We will be meeting on Wednesday, January 8 at 3:00 p.m. 

"The author recounts in graphic novel format her experiences with hearing loss at a young age, including using a bulky hearing aid, learning how to lip read, and determining her "superpower."-summary

Copies of the book will be available at the Circulation Desk. Please be sure to sign up for book club so that Miss Lisa can buy enough snacks!

January Grades 3-4 Book Club Suggestions

Crenshaw by Katherine Applegate

Jackson and his family have fallen on hard times. There's no more money for rent. And not much for food, either. His parents, his little sister, and their dog may have to live in their minivan. Again.

Crenshaw is a cat. He's large, he's outspoken, and he's imaginary. He has come back into Jackson's life to help him. But is an imaginary friend enough to save this family from losing everything?

El Deafo by Cece Bell

The author recounts in graphic novel format her experiences with hearing loss at a young age, including using a bulky hearing aid, learning how to lip read, and determining her "superpower."

Smile by Raina Telgemeier

Raina just wants to be a normal sixth grader. But one night after Girl Scouts she trips and falls, severely injuring her two front teeth. What follows is a long and frustrating journey with on-again, off-again braces, surgery, embarrassing headgear, and even a retainer with fake teeth attached. And on top of all that, there's still more to deal with: a major earthquake, boy confusion, and friends who turn out to be not so friendly.

Wish by Barbara O'Connor

Eleven-year-old Charlie Reese has been making the same secret wish every day since fourth grade. She even has a list of all the ways there are to make the wish, such as cutting off the pointed end of a slice of pie and wishing on it as she takes the last bite.

But when she is sent to the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina to live with family she barely knows, it seems unlikely that her wish will ever come true. That is, until she meets Wishbone, a skinny stray dog who captures her heart, and Howard, a neighbor boy who proves surprising in lots of ways. Suddenly Charlie is in serious danger of discovering that what she thought she wanted may not be what she needs at all.

November Grades 3-4 Book Club: Just Like Jackie

For November's Book Club, we read Just Like Jackie by Lindsey Stoddard. Please read some of the comments about the book below.

Please use one word to describe your first impression of Robbie:

-nice
-violent
-bad language
-not religious
-very violent and cares about her grandpa
-violent and kind
-she always does the first thing on her mind
-sorta violent



Please use one word to describe your first impression of Alex:

-mean
-jerkface
-rude
-bully
-always acts innocent
-crybaby
-jerk and acts innocent
-tattletale
-Momma's boy


Was there any character in Group Guidance who you could relate to or empathize with?:

-I might react the same way as Alex if something had to one of my parents
-I felt bad for Robbie because her Mom died (and she never knew her Dad)
-I felt bad for Austin
-I felt bad for Alex at the end, when it was revealed that his dad had cancer



Who was your favorite character in Just Like Jackie? Least favorite? Why?:


-Grandpa was my favorite. Alex was my least favorite.
-Favorite was Robbie. Least favorite was Alex.
-Favorite was Oscar. Least was Robbie.
-Favorite was Robbie. Alex was my least favorite.
-Favorite was Robbie. Least favorite was Robbie's mom.

What's your favorite scene of the story?:

-When Robbie punched Alex in the face.
-Robbie's mom.
-In Group Guidance, when Oscar and the other people in Guidance when they agreed with Robbie about the Family Tree idea.
-When Robbie punched Alex in the face.
-When Alex cried like a baby.



Do you think that there was a message in this book, beyond the story it told? What might the message be?:

-If someone is acting odd, like something is wrong, something might be happening at home or another personal problem.
-Don't bully people because their name is a different name or they are different from you.
-Don't judge a book by its cover.
-Everyone has challenges in life.
-Don't ever punch someone when you feel like its the right thing to do.

What did you think about the ending of the book? Did it make you happy, sad, etc?:  

-The end of the story made me feel happy and sad.
-Sappy (sad AND happy together)

Please rate this book from 1-5, with 5 being the best:

-Three 3
-One 4
-Three 5

For December's Book Club, we will be reading Red: The (Fairly) True Tale of Red Riding Hood by Liesl Shurtliff.

"Followed by a wolf, a huntsman, and a porridge-sampling nuisance called Goldie, Red embarks on a quest to find a magical cure for her ailing grandmother."-summary

 Please be sure to register for Book Club and pick up your library copy of the book at the Circulation Desk!

We will be meeting on Wednesday, December 11 at 3:00 p.m. Copies of the book will be available at the Circulation Desk. Please be sure to sign up for book club so that Miss Lisa can buy enough snacks!

December Grades 3-4 Book Club Suggestions

Frindle by Andrew Clements

Is Nick Allen a troublemaker? He really just likes to liven things up at school -- and he's always had plenty of great ideas. When Nick learns some interesting information about how words are created, suddenly he's got the inspiration for his best plan ever...the frindle. Who says a pen has to be called a pen? Why not call it a frindle? Things begin innocently enough as Nick gets his friends to use the new word. Then other people in town start saying frindle. Soon the school is in an uproar, and Nick has become a local hero. His teacher wants Nick to put an end to all this nonsense, but the funny thing is frindle doesn't belong to Nick anymore. The new word is spreading across the country, and there's nothing Nick can do to stop it.



Knights vs. Dinosaurs by Matt Phelan

Let me tell you a secret about the Knights of the Round Table: they don’t have much to do. The realm is at peace and dragons are few and far between. So Merlin decides to send the knights out on a real adventure to a world filled with the most terrible lizards of all: DINOSAURS!

Knights vs. Dinosaurs is a highly illustrated, fast-paced adventure full of uproarious knightly hijinks, surprising secrets, and terrifying dinosaurs. 

Red: The (Fairly) True Story of Red Riding Hood by Leisl Shurtliff

Red is not afraid of the big bad wolf. She’s not afraid of anything . . . except magic. But when Red’s granny falls ill, it seems that only magic can save her, and fearless Red is forced to confront her one weakness.

With the help of a blond, porridge-sampling nuisance called Goldie, Red goes on a quest to cure Granny. Her journey takes her through dwarves’ caverns to a haunted well and a beast’s castle. All the while, Red and Goldie are followed by a wolf and a huntsman—two mortal enemies who seek the girls’ help to defeat each other. And one of them just might have the magical solution Red is looking for. . . .

October Grades 3-4 Book Club: Nightbooks

For October's Book Club, we read Nightbooks by J.A. White. Cameron, Hunter, Lucy, Micah, and Rileigh were present. Please read some of the comments about the book below.

Please use one word to describe your first impression of Alex:

-creepy
-gullible
-dumb
-odd
-brave


Please use one word to describe your first impression of Yasmin:

-unfriendly
-strict
-obedient


Please use one word to describe your first impression of Natacha:

-capturing (Alex)
-mean
-trickster


Who was your favorite character in Nightbooks? Least favorite? Why?:


-My favorite was Alex because he didn't give up.
-My least favorite was Aunt Gris because she was really creepy and evil.
-My favorite was Alex because he pretended to be the witch's friend in order to save his friends.
-Aunt Gris because she tried to eat the kids.
-My favorite was Lenore because she was a cat and she tried to save Alex.
-My least favorite was Natacha because she tried to capture all of the kids.
-I liked Alex and Natacha. I liked her because she is clever.
-I liked Yasmin as well.

What's your favorite scene of the story?:

-The beginning.
-I loved the Unicorn Girl.
-My favorite part was when Yasmin came out and said that she was a vegetarian.
-My favorite part was the candy house that put people to sleep when they took a bite.


Do you think that there was a message in this book, beyond the story it told? What might the message be?:

-The message is don't fall for tricks in general. If you're doing something you're not supposed to be doing, don't do it.
-Don't enter other people's houses unless you know them.
-Don't trust strangers.

What did you think about the ending of the book? Do you think there will be a sequel?: 

-This book will have a sequel.
-It could stand alone but I always like a book series better than just a standalone.
-What's going to happen next?


Please use one word to describe your last impression of Alex. Your last impression of Yasmin.:

-Yasmin was nice again. Alex was nice and kind.
-Yasmin was better to Alex than she had been. Alex got smarter and he learned his lesson.
-They both could escape.

Please rate this book from 1-5, with 5 being the best:

-Three 3s
-One 5
(one didn't vote)

For November's Book Club, we will be reading Just Like Jackie by Lindsey Stoddard.

Fifth grader Robbie is determined to stay out of trouble so that she does not worry her grandfather whose memory is failing and to make sure that she and her grandfather stay together as he is the only family she has left.

We will be meeting on Wednesday, November 13 at 3:00 p.m. Copies of the book will be available at the Circulation Desk. Please be sure to sign up for book club so that Miss Lisa can buy enough snacks!

November Grades 3-4 Book Club Suggestions

Captain Superlative by J.S. Puller

"Have no fear, citizens! Captain Superlative is here to make all troubles disappear!"

Red mask, blue wig, silver swimsuit, rubber gloves, torn tights, high top sneakers and . . . a cape? Who would run through the halls of Deerwood Park Middle School dressed like this? And why?

Janey-quick to stay in the shadows-can't resist the urge to uncover the truth behind the mask. The answer pulls invisible Janey into the spotlight and leads her to an unexpected friendship with a superhero like no other. Fearless even in the face of school bully extraordinaire, Dagmar Hagen, no good deed is too small for the incomparable Captain Superlative and her new sidekick, Janey.

But superheroes hold secrets and Captain Superlative is no exception. When Janey unearths what's truly at stake, she's forced to face her own dark secrets and discover what it truly means to be a hero . . . and a friend.

Hello, Universe by Erin Entrada Kelly

Virgil feels out of place in his crazy-about-sports family. Valencia is deaf, smart, and loves everything about nature. Kaori is a self-proclaimed psychic, whose little sister, Gen, is always following her around. And Chet wishes the weird kids would just stop being so different so that he can concentrate on basketball. They aren't friends. But when Chet pulls a prank that traps Virgil and his pet guinea pig at the bottom of a well, Kaori, Gen, and Valencia begin a quest to find the missing Virgil.

Just Like Jackie by Lindsey Stoddard

For as long as Robinson Hart can remember, it’s just been her and Grandpa. He taught her about cars, baseball, and everything else worth knowing. But Grandpa’s memory has been getting bad—so bad that he sometimes can’t even remember Robbie’s name.

She’s sure that she’s making things worse by getting in trouble at school, but she can’t resist using her fists when bullies like Alex Carter make fun of her for not having a mom.

Now she’s stuck in group guidance—and to make things even worse, Alex Carter is there too. There’s no way Robbie’s going to open up about her life to some therapy group, especially not with Alex in the room. Besides, if she told anyone how forgetful Grandpa’s been getting lately, they’d take her away from him. He’s the only family she has—and it’s up to her to keep them together, no matter what.

September Grades 3-4 Book Club: The Wild Robot

For September's Book Club, we read The Wild Robot by Peter Brown. Caitlin, Cameron, Kaitlyn, Lucy, Matt, Micah, Mira and Rileigh were present. Please read some of the comments about the book below.

Please use one word to describe your first impression of Roz:

-excited
-explorer
-wild
-smart
-robot
-skinny
-curious
-helpful


Who was your favorite character in The Wild Robot? Least favorite? Why?:

-Roz because I liked what she did. She was very helpful. My least favorite was the human who shot the birds.
-The owl because she was funny. Then she got more comfortable with Roz and became more friendly.
-Broadfoot was my favorite because he's a giant moose. The fox ate most of the animals so you didn't like him so much.
-Roz because she explored everything. She's very curious, just like me.
-My least favorite was Roz because I liked the old cat more.
-My favorite character was the fox because he wanted to eat everything. I'm always hungry so I can relate to him.

What's your favorite scene of the story?:

-I liked it when Roz first got to the island. The otters didn't know what to make of her.
-The first scene was good.
-The first scene.
-My favorite scene was when RECO 1 was shot. He was the last one to be "alive" and try to capture Roz. Or when Roz jumped off the cliff and ended up "killing" some of the eggs. Only Brightbill survived.
-The first scene.
-When Roz rescued Brightbill when the nest fell down. She saved Brightbill's life.
-When the fox was on the log and he was like "help me" because he had porcupine quills on his face. Roz helped him.
-When the man came into the greenhouse where all of the ducks were "hanging out" and shot one of them. This was my least favorite scene.


Do you think that there was a message in this book, beyond the story it told? What might the message be?:


-Don't judge a book by its cover. Like Roz being a monster.
-Anyone can survive in the wilderness.
-To be helpful.
-To be curious.
-She wouldn't have survived if she hadn't helped the others out.

What did you think about the ending of the book? Do you think there will be a sequel?: 

-Yes.
-She made a good choice to go and try to figure out where she came from.


Please use one word to describe your last impression of Roz:

-helpful
-brave
-courageous
-amazing
-talkative
-when she got to the island (it's the last part I read)

Please rate this book from 1-5, with 5 being the best:

-One 1

-Three 3s

-Three 4s

For October's Book Club, we will be reading Nightbooks by J.A. White.

Nightbooks by J.A. White

A boy is imprisoned by a witch and must tell her a new scary story each night to stay alive. Alex’s original hair-raising tales are the only thing keeping the witch Natacha happy, but soon he’ll run out of pages to read from and be trapped forever. He’s loved scary stories his whole life, and he knows most don’t have a happily ever after. Now that Alex is trapped in a true terrifying tale, he’s desperate for a different ending—and a way out of this twisted place.

We will be meeting on Wednesday, October 9 at 3:00 p.m. Copies of the book will be available at the Circulation Desk. Please be sure to sign up for book club so that Miss Lisa can buy enough snacks!

October Grades 3-4 Book Club Suggestions

Nightbooks by J.A. White

A boy is imprisoned by a witch and must tell her a new scary story each night to stay alive. Alex’s original hair-raising tales are the only thing keeping the witch Natacha happy, but soon he’ll run out of pages to read from and be trapped forever. He’s loved scary stories his whole life, and he knows most don’t have a happily ever after. Now that Alex is trapped in a true terrifying tale, he’s desperate for a different ending—and a way out of this twisted place.

Saving Winslow by Sharon Creech

Louie doesn't have the best luck when it comes to nurturing small creatures. So when his father brings home a sickly newborn mini donkey, he's determined to save him. He names him Winslow. Taking care of him helps Louie feel closer to his brother, Gus, who is far, far away in the army.

Everyone worries that Winslow won't survive, especially Louie’s quirky new friend, Nora, who has experienced loss of her own. But as Louie's bond with Winslow grows, surprising and life-altering events prove that this fragile donkey is stronger than anyone could have imagined.

The Wild Robot Escapes by Peter Brown

After being captured by the Recons and returned to civilization for reprogramming, Roz is sent to Hilltop Farm where she befriends her owner's family and animals, but pines for her son, Brightbill.

April Grades 3-4 Book Club: The Collectors

For April's Book Club, we read The Collectors by Jacqueline West. Gavin, Kailynn, Luna, Mira, and Mark were present. This is some of what we talked about.

Please use one word to describe your first impression of Van at the beginning of this book:

-nervous
-curious
-Collector
-nervous
-low-self-esteem

Later in the book:

-two-sided
-confused
-Collector
-sneaky
-mischievous
-confident
-curious
-hopeful
-scared
-brave

Who was your favorite character in The Collectors?  Why?:

-Pebble, Van, Barnavelt and Lemmy
-Lemmy and the wish eater that made the chandelier shake
-Barnavelt was funny
-Lemmy was cute
-Pebble was interesting
-Van was observant

Who was your least favorite character in this book?  Why?:

-Nail, because he was creepy
-Jack was intense
-Mr Falberg, although I liked him at the beginning
-Mr. Gray
-Peter

What's your favorite scene of the story?:

-When Van jumped out the window at Peter's birthday party. It was unexpected.
-The scene where Van and Peter were getting along at the pizza place. The part where Pebble and Van said that they were friends. And the part with Lemmy coming out of the box.
-The part with Lemmy and the chandelier.
-The whole entire book.
-I liked when he was talking to Mr. Falborg and Pebble at the end of the book.
-Renata/Chuck talking to Van at the end.



Least favorite scene:

-Van running back to his house. It was hard to imagine.
-When Van let all of the wish eaters out, because that could cause something bad to happen.

Did you think that Van was a bad person because he often stole things at the beginning of the story and reinvented the truth to serve his purposes later in the book?:

-Mr. Falborg was controlling Van when he let the wish eaters out of their changes
-You knew that there was something up with Mr. Falborg because he seemed too nice. It was kind of like Sweep and Crud offering Nan his breakfast, which was a trick.
-Razor seemed really creepy and mean at the beginning but then ended up being nice.

What's up with Peter? Why is he so mean to Van? Are his actions justified?:

-He thinks his dad is going to marry Van's mom
-Yes
-His actions are somewhat justified.

Let's talk a little bit about Mr. Falborg. Is he evil or just misunderstood?:

-Evil
-Evil
-He made Pebble by wishing for her. He wanted another collector with him.
-He's an evil collector.
-He made Pebble to help take care of his wish eaters.

How does Van change by the end of the story? Is he a different person than when it started?:

-Braver
-More confident
-He has higher self-esteem
-He's proud of himself

Do you think that there was a message in this book, beyond the story it told? What might the message be?: 

-Pay attention to your surroundings. Mr. Falborg totally tricked Van.
-Working for both sides might be possible.
-Van should have just chosen one side.
-Mr. Falborg asked Van to be a spy on the evil side, though he didn't know it at the time.

-Be yourself.
-Don't judge yourself. And don't judge others.

Please use one word to describe your last impression of the collectors and The Collectors.

-Amazing
-Nicer
-Mysterious
-Sneaky
-Nicest
-Misunderstood by Van

What did you think about the ending of the book? Do you think there will be a sequel or did the author complete the story in one book?: 

-no sweep and this book was a tie
-there could be a sequel
-no sequel
-there could be a sequel

Rate this book from 1-5:

-4.5
-4.5
-5
-4
-4.5

For the Grades 3-4 Book Club in May, we will be reading Merci Suarez Changes Gears by Meg Medina.

Merci Suárez knew that sixth grade would be different, but she had no idea just how different. For starters, Merci has never been like the other kids at her private school in Florida, because she and her older brother, Roli, are scholarship students. They don't have a big house or a fancy boat, and they have to do extra community service to make up for their free tuition. So when bossy Edna Santos sets her sights on the new boy who happens to be Merci's school-assigned Sunshine Buddy, Merci becomes the target of Edna's jealousy. Things aren't going well at home, either: Merci's grandfather and most trusted ally, Lolo, has been acting strangely lately -- forgetting important things, falling from his bike, and getting angry over nothing. No one in her family will tell Merci what's going on, so she's left to her own worries, while also feeling all on her own at school.

We will meet on Wednesday, May 8 at 3:00 p.m. Copies of the book are available at the Circulation Desk. Please do not forget to register so Miss Lisa knows how many participants to expect!

March Grades 3-4 Book Club: Winterhouse

For March's Book Club, we read Winterhouse by Ben Guterson. Caitlin, Kailynn, Mira, and Mark were present. This is some of what we talked about.

Please use one word to describe your first impression of Elizabeth at the beginning of this book:

-nerdy
-curious
-kind
-smart
-adventurous
-interesting
-interested

Later in the book:

-nosy
-sneaky
-deceptive

Who was your favorite character in Winterhouse?  Why?:

-Elizabeth and Freddy
-Elizabeth because she was the main character
-Elizabeth because she was in all the scenes
-Elizabeth because she was adventurous

Who was your least favorite character in this book?  Why?:

-Gracella because she was evil
-Gracella wanted to destroy Winterhouse
-Gracella was envious of Norbridge

What's your favorite scene of the story?:

-Walking into Winterhouse for the first time
-The scene where the light shattered outside of Gracella's room
-When Gracella was in the coffin
-How the whole book was a puzzle. And how the necklace was the key.

Did you think that Elizabeth was a bad person because she often lied to Freddy and Norbridge?:

-No, because she did it for good reasons
-She lied to save Winterhouse

Let's talk a little bit about Gracella. Was she evil or just misunderstood?:

-She was both
-She was misunderstood because she just really wanted to be in charge of Winterhouse. She was jealous of Norbridge.
-She did evil things and not really for a good reason but you can understand her motivations

Do you think that Elizabeth is a good friend to Freddy? How about Freddy to Elizabeth?:

-Yes, because she's nice
-They're equals
-Freddy is a good friend to Elizabeth.
-He tries to save her from so many things and she doesn't listen.

How does Elizabeth change by the end of the story? Is she a different person than when it started?:

-She is surprised because Norbridge is her grandfather.
-She is happier because she's gotten a new family and doesn't have to go back to her awful aunt and uncle.
-She's a better person at the end.
-She's got a better family.

Do you think that there was a message in this book, beyond the story it told? What might the message be?: 

-Be patient.
-Don't be like Freddy.

Please use one word to describe your last impression of Winterhouse, the place:

-creepy
-magical
-spooky
-beautiful/creepy

What did you think about the ending of the book? Do you think there will be a sequel or did the author complete the story in one book?: 

-Good

Rate this book from 1-5:

-Four 5s!

For the Grades 3-4 Book Club in April, we will be reading The Collectors by Jacqueline West.

Van has always been an outsider. Most people don't notice him. But he notices them. And he notices the small trinkets they drop, or lose, or throw away--that's why his collection is full of treasures. Then one day, Van notices a girl stealing pennies from a fountain, and everything changes. He follows the girl, Pebble, and uncovers an underground world full of wishes and the people who collect them. Apparently not all wishes are good and even good wishes often have unintended consequences--and the Collectors have made it their duty to protect us. But they aren't the only ones who have their eyes on the world's wishes--and they may not be the good guys, after all.

We will meet on Wednesday, April 10 at 3:00 p.m. Copies of the book are available at the Circulation Desk. Please do not forget to register so Miss Lisa knows how many participants to expect!

April Grades 3-4 Book Club Suggestions

The Collectors by Jacqueline West

Van has always been an outsider. Most people don’t notice him. But he notices them. And he notices the small trinkets they drop, or lose, or throw away—that’s why his collection is full of treasures. Then one day, Van notices a girl stealing pennies from a fountain, and everything changes. He follows the girl, Pebble, and uncovers an underground world full of wishes and the people who collect them. Apparently not all wishes are good and even good wishes often have unintended consequences—and the Collectors have made it their duty to protect us. But they aren't the only ones who have their eyes on the world’s wishes—and they may not be the good guys, after all.  


Granted by John David Anderson

Everyone who wishes upon a star, or a candle, or a penny thrown into a fountain knows that you’re not allowed to tell anyone what you’ve wished for. But even so, there is someone out there who hears it. 

In a magical land called the Haven lives a young fairy named Ophelia Delphinium Fidgets. Ophela is no ordinary fairy—she is a Granter: one of the select fairies whose job it is to venture out into the world and grant the wishes of unsuspecting humans every day.

It’s the work of the Granters that generates the magic that allows the fairies to do what they do, and to keep the Haven hidden and safe. But with worldwide magic levels at an all-time low, this is not as easy as it sounds. On a typical day, only a small fraction of the millions of potential wishes gets granted.

Today, however, is anything but typical. Because today, Ophelia is going to get her very first wish-granting assignment.

And she’s about to discover that figuring out how to truly give someone what they want takes much more than a handful of fairy dust.

Merci Suarez Changes Gears by Meg Medina

Merci Suárez knew that sixth grade would be different, but she had no idea just how different. For starters, Merci has never been like the other kids at her private school in Florida, because she and her older brother, Roli, are scholarship students. They don't have a big house or a fancy boat, and they have to do extra community service to make up for their free tuition. 

So when bossy Edna Santos sets her sights on the new boy who happens to be Merci's school-assigned Sunshine Buddy, Merci becomes the target of Edna's jealousy. Things aren't going well at home, either: Merci's grandfather and most trusted ally, Lolo, has been acting strangely lately -- forgetting important things, falling from his bike, and getting angry over nothing. No one in her family will tell Merci what's going on, so she's left to her own worries, while also feeling all on her own at school.

February Grades 3-4 Book Club: Sweep: The Story of a Girl and Her Monster

For February's Book Club, we read Sweep: The Story of a Girl and Her Monster by Jonathan Auxier. Caitlin, Kailynn, Mira and Mark were present. This is some of what we talked about.

Please use one word to describe your first impression of Nan at the beginning of this book:

-dirty
-brave
-witty
-adventurous

Who was your favorite character in Sweep: The Story of a Girl and Her Monster?  Why?:

-Nan. Because she's the main character and the narrator.

-Toby, because he lives under a bridge. He might be a troll. He's part troll - part human.

-Roger because he was focusing on becoming the apprentice. He stayed on topic.

-Toby and Nan and Charlie. Because they work together. And Newt.

Who was your least favorite character in this book?  Why?:

-Crudd. Because he was cold-hearted.
-He was diabolical.
-He was brutal.

What's your favorite scene of the story?:

-Too many to choose from.
-I made up a scene in my mind. After Nan walked into the Nothing Room, I made up an idea of what Dent's home looked like.
-I liked when Nan met Miss Bloom.

What's the story with the climbers? What is their role in society?:

-Fighting for their lives.
-Barely surviving.
-They are the lowest of the low.

Let's talk a little bit about Wilkie Crudd and Roger:

-Roger is okay. Until he almost kills Nan.
-But then he's nice again.
-Did Wilkie deserve to die at the end? YES!
-No one deserves to die.

Later in the book, we learn Roger's backstory. Nan thinks that he is "gone too far" to redeem. Do you believe that?:

-Some people may be redeemed.

What did you think of Nan and Charlie? Do you think that they were equals?:

-They were amazing together.
-Without Charlie, Nan wouldn't have lived.
-He sacrificed himself for Nan. Which was her purpose.

How does Nan change by the end of the story? Is she a different person than when it started?:

-She's in new clothes.
-She's clean.
-She's nicer. She's nicer to Toby.

Do you think that there was a message in this book, beyond the story it told? What might the message be?: 

-Be nice.
-Try to redeem yourself before it's too late.

Please use one word to describe your last impression of Nan:

-Brave
-Courageous
-Amazing
-Warm-hearted.
-Very nice
-Redeemable

What did you think about the ending of the book? Do you think there will be a sequel or did the author complete the story in one book?: 

-It was a good ending.
-It was a gentle ending, not abrupt.

-I liked the dreams she had
-The climbers could tell what Nan was dreaming, especially about the Sweep.

Rate this book from 1-5:

All 5s!!!!! These readers really liked this book!

For the Grades 3-4 Book Club in March, we will be reading Winterhouse by Ben Guterson.

Elizabeth, eleven, spends Christmas break at Winterhouse hotel under strange circumstances, where she discovers that she has magic, and her love of puzzles helps her solve a mystery.

We will meet on Wednesday, March 13 at 3:00 p.m. Copies of the book are available at the Circulation Desk. Please do not forget to register so Miss Lisa knows how many participants to expect!